Irrigation support counters Fish&Game findings

In
January this year, Kiwis voted 71% pro-irrigation in an
independent poll commissioned by IrrigationNZ.

Public
support for irrigation was again on show today when results
from a survey by Fish&Game showed 67% of New Zealanders
agree to large scale irrigation schemes provided water and
nutrients are managed. The survey commissioned by Fish&Game
was called ‘Farming and the Environment’ and was
conducted independently by Horizon Research Limited.

IrrigationNZ CEO Andrew Curtis says while he agrees with
some of Fish&Game’s survey results, unfortunately the
organisation has chosen to focus on the negative. In reality
only a minority of Kiwis hold views that reflect no
development or progress for New Zealand.

“Fish&Game
is reiterating the same old rhetoric around the water
quality problems that we all know exist in some parts of New
Zealand. Bryce is like a broken record. It’s time
Fish&Game replaced him with someone who can make a
constructive contribution. After the Land &Water Forum the
farming community is now focused on finding solutions –
not throwing stones. Kiwis in our latest research emphasised
that as long as irrigation is undertaken in a sustainable
and responsible fashion, the majority are comfortable with
it.”

“We do however acknowledge that Kiwis need
more information on irrigation practice today and how it is
monitored and managed and we hope to fill that information
gap next month with the launch of our new SMART irrigation
website.”

In the meantime we agree with the
following findings from Fish&Game;

· Industry
bodies to better understand and align with public opinion on
issues relating to irrigation, water and environmental
protection in order to form responsible and acceptable
policies and industry standards;

· That
irrigation which aids economic development must be managed
responsibly with standardised measures and monitoring in
place and that

· ‘Smarter’ practices must be
sought out which both enhance production but also protect
New Zealand’s resources.

“Irrigation New Zealand
is working with agencies, organisations and individuals to
minimise the impact of irrigation on our rivers and river
flow and water quality limits are being set so that
irrigators sustainably manage the water we all value,”
says Mr Curtis.

*The Irrigation New Zealand Poll was
conducted as part of a Research project, the sample size was
1,000 people taken from a random selection of 10,000
telephone numbers in Auckland, Canterbury, Wellington,
Hawke’s Bay, Hamilton and Wairarapa, sample criteria Aged
18 or older, maximum sampling error (at 50%) +/- 3.1% @ 95%
confidence level.

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